Home Cinema Choice October 2019

Earlier this year, Fox celebrated the 40th anniversary of Alien with a slick UHD Blu-ray release. This month, Studiocanal is doing the same for Apocalypse Now. It's a trend that I like, as there are always fan-favourite films about to reach one temporal milestone or another. Although it does make me wonder why Warner Bros. is putting The Shining (1980) out on UHD Blu-ray this year, rather than next. Apocalypse Now director Francis Ford Coppola has even caught the bug and put together a new Final Cut of the film. Revising art is a controversial subject, as George Lucas would no doubt confirm, but–as this tightened-up edit by Coppola shows–can have its merits. But what's important is that earlier iterations aren't cast aside or removed from view. So applause for Studiocanal…

Earlier this year, Fox celebrated the 40th anniversary of Alien with a slick UHD Blu-ray release. This month, Studiocanal is doing the same for Apocalypse Now. It's a trend that I like, as there are always fan-favourite films about to reach one temporal milestone or another. Although it does make me wonder why Warner Bros. is putting The Shining (1980) out on UHD Blu-ray this year, rather than next. Apocalypse Now director Francis Ford Coppola has even caught the bug and put together a new Final Cut of the film. Revising art is a controversial subject, as George Lucas would no doubt confirm, but–as this tightened-up edit by Coppola shows–can have its merits. But what's important is that earlier iterations aren't cast aside or removed from view. So applause for…

John Archer: The experienced TV tester cut his teeth as an early HCC staffer Jon Thompson: Film producer and post-production expert delves into Hollywood and AV Steve May: HCC’s former Ed. is one of the UK’s most respected AV journos Martin Pipe: Technical expert Martin is renown throughout the industry Richard Stevenson: Former Editor of the UK CE trade journal ERT Ed Selley: Audiophile Ed mixes his home cinema passion with a love of vinyl Steve Withers: Movie fan, display calibrator and object-based audio obsessive…

John Archer: The experienced TV tester cut his teeth as an early HCC staffer Jon Thompson: Film producer and post-production expert delves into Hollywood and AV Steve May: HCC’s former Ed. is one of the UK’s most respected AV journos Martin Pipe: Technical expert Martin is renown throughout the industry Richard Stevenson: Former Editor of the UK CE trade journal ERT Ed Selley: Audiophile Ed mixes his home cinema passion with a love of vinyl Steve Withers: Movie fan, display calibrator and object-based audio obsessive…

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS PIEGA 'Universal' speaker targets on-wall/on-ceiling setups TOSHIBA Reborn brand preps TVs for IFA MARANTZ Mid-range AV receiver lineup updated AT THE PLEX This month's cinema releases NEWS X10 Hot news stories in bite-sized chunks X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX Mutants bring their final fight to Ultra HD Blu-ray & MORE! Claiming to offer something different to the 'me too wireless speaker sector', Klipsch's The Three II desktop stereo model (£400) bolsters its 2.1 driver configuration with dual opposed passive radiators to improve bass response. Retro styling touches include a real-wood veneer finish (in black or walnut) and metal on-body controls, while connectivity covers Bluetooth, 3.5mm, USB for computer hookup and an MM phono stage for vinyl addicts. 192kHz/24-bit decoding handles hi-res audio tracks. ONLINE… For breaking AV news, blogs, features and reviews visit…

Described by manufacturer Piega as 'universally deployable', the AP 1.2 is designed to function as a desktop, on-wall, on-ceiling or upfiring speaker, courtesy of its supplied mounting bracket/stand, compact form (it's 28cm high) and tuning for close-to-wall positions. Within the pyramidal aluminium cabinet reside a 140mm midbass driver and the same ribbon tweeter found in Piega's Premium Series models. Available in gloss white or anodised black finishes, it's sold singularly for £600. New look and tech for Mu-so Qb Naim's cube-shaped speaker has received an overhaul. The £700 Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation features an updated design and drivers, new touchscreen controls and a raft of software changes, including the adoption of Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast for multiroom compatibility, plus Naim's proprietary streaming platform developed for its Uniti network players. It…